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Scotland A vs Chile player ratings | 2022 Tour
By Gavin Harper
Scotland’s summer tour of South America got off to a winning start as Gregor Townsend’s ‘A’ side breezed past Chile with a 45-5 victory in Santiago.
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Scotland fielded a side that combined the youth of Ollie Smith and Ben Muncaster with experienced heads like Scott Cummings and Matt Fagerson, and they were too strong for the home side in this non-cap fixture.
Damien Hoyland marked his return to the Scotland fold with a hat-trick, while George Horne also crossed twice.
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Scotland will have been frustrated with the chances they passed up and their inability to really drive home a 28-point half-time advantage.
Nevertheless, it was a welcome hit-out before a three-game series against Argentina, which will be a significant step up for the tourists. Here’s a look at how the Scotland players performed.
15. Ollie Smith – 7
Some excellent touches from the young Glasgow man, including great footwork to break through Chile forwards from his own 22.
14. Damien Hoyland – 8
A well-taken hat-trick on his first Scotland appearance since the 2017 summer tour.
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13. Matt Currie – 7
The young Edinburgh centre is one to watch for the future. Will have learned a lot and showed some nice touches, including a powerful carry in the run-up to Horne’s first try.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
One of Scotland’s mainstays this year, his heft and dynamism put the home side on the back foot. Some nice touches at first receiever to give Thompson space behind.
11. Rufus McLean – 7
Denied a first half score by a knock-on from Horne, he got his try eventually late on. His counter attack also set up Hoyland’s hat-trick score.
10. Ross Thompson – 7
His last outing was Glasgow’s pulverising by Leinster. This was always likely to be a very different test, but he controlled the game well and picked holes in the home defence.
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9. George Horne – 8
Hasn’t started for Scotland since win over Russia at 2019 Rugby World Cup. Needs to kick on now and took his opportunity with two first-half tries.
1. Jamie Bhatti – 7
The most experienced Scottish forward with 21 Test caps, he helped put the hosts under real set-piece pressure. Quieter than Sebastian with ball in hand and will be disappointed he didn’t score let in the first half.
2. Dave Cherry – 6.5
A couple of explosive breaks from the back of dominant mauls and the lineout functioned well, but a quiet outing for the Edinburgh hooker.
3. Javan Sebastian – 7.5
Scotland need depth at tighthead and the Scarlets man took his chance here. Put limited opposition under huge scrum pressure and got through a power of work.
4. Jamie Hodgson – 6
Added his weight to the set-piece and showed one lovely touch to free Thompson early on. Conceded three soft penalties.
5. Scott Cummings – 8
Back from injury to get game-time before the Test series against Argentina. Always looks to take the ball at pace, which made stopping him a real challenge for the Chileans. Also ran a lineout that didn’t falter. Offload put Hoyland away for his treble.
6. Ben Muncaster – 7
Deserved this opportunity after an outstanding season for Edinburgh. Physical with ball in hand and powerful on defence. Should’ve passed to put McLean away with two minutes to go.
7. Luke Crosbie – 7
A typically industrious showing from the captain. Put George Horne away with a well-timed pass after finding a soft Chilean shoulder.
8. Matt Fagerson – 7.5
Back from injury ahead of the Argentina series, the Glasgow man put in a solid shift. His footwork into contact regularly bought him a couple of metres against a Chile side struggling to compete physically.
Replacements:
16. Johnny Matthews – 6
Replaced Cherry for the final half hour. Did well when he found himself in the wide expanses. Set-piece functioned well.
17. Pierre Schoeman – 6
On for Bhatti for the closing stages, the Edinburgh man added his weight to the defensive effort as the home side threatened to cross late on.
18. Murphy Walker – 6
Not even a regular for his club but given this opportunity to make a step up. Set-piece dominance didn’t drop when he came on. Another one with plenty to offer in the future.
19. Glen Young – 6.5
The man from the Jed-Forest club where Greig Laidlaw’s career began made a big hit with his first involvement. Added a vital covering effort as Chile thought they’d broken through.
20. Magnus Bradbury – 6.5
Put through a huge gap by Kinghorn, but penalised for failing to release before he got back on his feet. Will have been frustrated not to contribute more.
21. Ali Price – 6.5
A couple of vital tackles as he attempted to deny the hosts a deserved try late on, but put his side under pressure by trying to run a penalty from deep. A lovely try with the final play.
22. Blair Kinghorn – 6
Put McLean over and found a huge hole for Bradbury to run into in his cameo.
23. Mark Bennett – 6
An excellent break to put Price away his most noteworthy effort of a short cameo.
